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{Editor’s Note: This living room update came together in partnership with my friends at Lulu & Georgia, but as always, opinions and picks are 100% mine. Thanks for supporting the wonderful businesses that keep the lights on at SMC HQ!}

Friends, most of you have seen my casa by now – the whole “make over my house” saga was front and center at SMC for quite a while. And while I adored everything about the finished product, it’s been a couple of years, and things were looking a little worse for wear. Plus, sometimes a girl just needs a change. But I was in no way mentally prepared to undertake a complete overhaul of my space again. And really, it didn’t need it – the room still has a great foundation. It just needed a little nip/tuck to make things feel shiny and new again.

So, when Lulu & Georgia asked if I’d be interested in updating a room and showing it off, you can imagine how long it took me to say yes. Read on →

{Editor’s Note: The following is sponsored by my friends at thredUP, but opinions and picks are all mine. As always, thanks for supporting these wonderful businesses that keep the lights on at SMC!}

If there’s anything I love more than a new bag, it’s a bargain. So when I heard that thredUP was adding handbags to their fantastic online consignment offerings, I may have gotten a little giddy. Right on trend, nearly-new bags, 100% authentic (I checked – they’ve hired experts to make sure), marked down as low as 1/4 of their original retail price? Where do I sign?

A few of the (too) many styles I’m coveting this morning: thredup handbagsRead on →

{This Mother’s Day gift guide is sponsored by Hatch Jewelry, but I’m happy to say that all opinions and blatant coveting of their goods are entirely mine. Thanks for supporting the businesses that support SMC!}

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, friends…are you ready? Neither am I. But in recent years, it’s gotten easier to find something to show my mom how appreciated she is – I’ve finally figured out that jewelry is almost always the answer. It’s sentimental, feels like a splurge (but doesn’t have to be), and you can borrow it back any time you want!

But please, I beg you, don’t think for a second that this means running to Ye Olde Megamart and picking up the first plastic bauble that catches your eye. If you’re going for sentiment, you’ll wow Mom infinitely more with a handcrafted piece that has a story. That’s where Hatch Jewelry comes in. Read on →

{Editor’s Note: This gift guide was sponsored by my friends at Woonwinkel, but the picks are entirely mine. Thank you so much for supporting the businesses that support SMC!} family gifts

You remember Woonwinkel, right? That gorgeously modern home and accessories store in Portland (and online), filled with treasures I don’t see anywhere else – which, in my line of work, is really saying something. Every year, they’re one of my first stops for gifts, and one of the first places I look to fill out my own wish list. So, when they asked if I’d like to come up with a few gift picks from their store and share them with you? You can imagine how long it took me to agree.

The thing that always surprises me about Woonwinkel is how affordable most of their pieces are. Sure, you can splurge, but if you check out this list, you’ll see that nearly everything I’ve picked is under $60 – definitely a steal in gifting parlance. Plus, they really do have something for the whole family, so you can get your shopping done in one spot – and support a home-grown business while you’re at it! And PS: if anyone’s looking for a gift for me, that iPhone case and the brass paperweights are just my size. Ooh, and the ostrich pillow…

Last week, I told you all about the fun I had ordering my brand spanking new Sofa.com sofa. (Do I have to call it a sofa instead of a couch if it came from Sofa.com? Inquiring minds…) And then I left you to spend the week guessing what I ordered. The only problem with that strategy? You had such great ideas, it had me second-guessing my pick! “Ooh, she’s right…the Bluebell in tweed would have been amazing!” Ah, the plight of the indecisive.

Despite all my waffling, I’m happy as a clam with my new sofa. Can I get a drumroll, please…..?

Friends, remember that colossal house redesign I showed you all a few months back? While we were working on the plan, our designer implored us – begged, even – to get a new sofa. She wanted a bit of warmth and color, she thought the scale was wrong, yada yada yada. But I nixed it for budgetary reasons. Real world design realities, y’all.

So, when I got an email from Sofa.com inviting me to try out their utterly gorgeous sofas, and have their help in custom designing one for my living room? You can imagine how quickly I hit “reply”. Based in London, Sofa.com just opened a new showroom in NYC and now delivers across the US. They make the most gorgeous, custom sofas in all sorts of comfy, modern shapes, with a “Hey, buying a sofa should be fun!” attitude I couldn’t resist.

To get started, I spent roughly a million hours on their website, perusing all of the designs, fabrics, and trying out every possible combination. Then, I ordered my “comfy pack” (okay, there may have been three comfy packs) – the most adorable collection of swatches ever to arrive at my door. Read on →

{Editor’s Note: The following is sponsored by Target, and you can read all about the gory details at the end. But as always, the content is 100% my opinion, which I’m never shy about sharing.}

For the final installment in our spring style series with Target, we’re talking stripes. I know, not exactly groundbreaking territory. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my mariner tees, and wear them more often than I care to admit. But I’ve no doubt you can style your favorite striped tee in your sleep: add a great pair of skinnies, a statement necklace and a ballet flat, and you’re done. Maybe throw on a cardigan or a blazer if you’re really feeling frisky.

Fortunately, I’m definitely in favor of upping our style game at any opportunity. If the only stripes in your closet belong to a collection of well-worn tees, you’re missing out. So, what if we took our beloved boat stripe and turned it into something a little more fashion-forward? Read on →

Sheer layers are one of those looks that pop up every time the weather turns warm – but they’re a tricky trend to get right. So, when Target asked me to share my favorite picks – and a few foolproof styling tips – I knew I had to step up to the plate. They may be a challenge, but with the right styling (and a few foolproof underpinnings), you’ll be set for the season!